How to Control Your Emotions Book Study

I am so excited! Drumroll please...

The dates have been set for our book study of How to Control Your Emotions So They Don't Control You (A Mom's Guide to Overcoming) by Brooke McGlothlin.

Starting Monday, October 14

and continuing each week through

Friday, November 15

join me and other women as we journey together seeking to overcome the downward spiral of emotions that fight to control us on a daily basis. Help is here my friends! 

Brooke shows us in her new ebook important Biblical truths we can use to overcome our emotions as she teaches us we don't have to submit to emotions that are damaging or let them control us. Instead we have a choice to submit those damaging emotions to the authority of the Word of God. The heart of Brooke's teaching is found in "Feel, Know, Do" which we'll cover in chapter 1. Next, in chapter 2 we'll learn "How to Overcome Lies with the Truth". Then in chapter 3 "Where Do We Get the Power to Overcome", we'll discover the Source of our power to overcome. In chapter 4 "Sometimes We Just Have to Walk Away", Brooke will take us through steps to remember as we try to process our responses to life's difficult circumstances. Finally in chapter 5 "What Happens When We Blow It?", because yes, we will still blow it at times...but in this final chapter we will see that we do not have to lose heart, that there is forgiveness when we do mess up, and that God is faithful to continue to give us victories as we seek to surrender our emotions to Him.

I would love for you to join me on this 5-week journey! To sign-up, please subscribe here 

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so you can receive the weekly book study emails. You'll also need a copy of the ebook, which you can order here. 

Here's how our book study will go: Each Monday, I will do a blog post to share my thoughts and ask a couple of questions to help us all get into discussion on the chapter we will read for the week. Then on Fridays, I will host a link-up party here on my blog where you all can link up your blog posts sharing what God laid on your heart throughout the week. If you don't have a blog, that's okay. I would love for you to come here on Fridays and leave your thoughts in the comments section.

More exciting news!! Brooke has generously offered one subscriber to our book study a free copy of her ebook, How to Control Your Emotions So They Don't Control You (A Mom's Guide to Overcoming). Simply leave a comment that you'll be joining the book study and what excites you about this study.

I can't wait to begin this journey with you! I'm praying God uses this book study to transform each one of us as we seek to surrender our emotions to Him. There are victories awaiting us, my friends. I'll see you here on Monday, October 14!

Love and prayers,
Laurie
    

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Homeschool Curriculum 2013-14

Today I'm linking up with Girlfriends Coffee Hour to share our homeschool curriculum choices for 2013-14. So take a break, grab yourself a cup of coffee (or tea or soda...), and relax for a moment with me here at my little corner of the blog world. I'm so glad you're here!

I can't believe my son and I are are finishing up week 4 already in our homeschool! This year leading up to my son's 7th grade year, I prayed and prayed and prayed some more over the choices I would make for his curriculum. Last year kind of felt like a flop since we were dealing with issues in Caleb's life that came to a head in June 2012 and resulted in a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome, OCD, and ADD. That was a very difficult time for our family. Homeschooling took on a more relaxed approach as issues were dealt with and doctor's appointments took priority. God was faithful to carry us through that time and He continues to carry us even now.

So after taking time to seriously pray and ask God for His guidance, I felt my next step should be to search for a planner so I could keep myself on track with a concrete visual. I desired something I could type into and then print out so I could check off each subject as we completed it. Call me crazy, but I need this to feel a sense of accomplishment. Or maybe, it is has to do with feeling a sense of control since everything that has recently happened that shows me I'm not in control at all. But I digress. Anyhow, I ended up creating my own spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel and I love it!

As for our curriculum choices, here is a list of what we are using in Abundant Grace Christian Academy for 2013-14. I am very satisfied with the choices I have made. I feel like I've finally discovered Caleb's learning style and what works best for him. It has certainly been a process and I'm so relieved to finally be in this place now. I am an eclectic homeschooler; and with Caleb's special needs he is not on the same grade level for all of his subjects, so this is what works for us. You have to decide what is best for your own child. I want to take a moment here to encourage you not to doubt yourself because as the mother of your child(ren), you know them better than anyone.

Our 2013-14 Curriculum

Bible: Grapevine Studies

Math: Math on the Level

Spelling: All About Spelling

Reading: Rod and Staff

Writing: Essentials in Writing {review coming soon!}

History: Mystery of History, Volume 1

Science: Apologia Exploring Creation with Human Anatomy and Physiology

Art: A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels {Here is my review and your chance to win the giveaway!}

I've also worked into our curriculum schedule Caleb's martial arts leadership program that allows him to earn badges every month in areas such as Perseverance, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, etc. He completes the required work and then turns it in to his instructor to receive his badge which I sew on his uniform. This is a great confidence booster!

My husband and I just signed up Caleb for Upward basketball as well. We were so excited when he approached us wanting to know if he could play this year! It's a wonderful opportunity for him to be around other kids his age so that he can work on his social skills and get some great exercise too! Score!!

So what are your curriculum choices for your homeschool this year? Come and join the link-up party with other homeschoolers over at Girlfriends Coffee Hour! I'll be looking for you there!

Having Fun with Homeschool Art

This year as I planned out our curriculum, I was inspired by a fellow blogger friend to give it a go with art in our homeschool this year! (Thanks, LaToya!) I am so glad I did! I contacted Southern Hodgepodge and expressed my interest in doing a review for A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels and was given the curriculum to review. At the end of this review you can enter in a drawing to win your own copy of A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels. Thanks, Tricia Hodges, for this giveaway!

Caleb and I have enjoyed using A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels, an absolutely easy to use and amazingly fun art curriculum created by Nana (a.k.a. Lucia) and Tricia. You can read more about their story here.

{This post contains affiliate links.}

Here's what I love about A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels:

• Step-by-step instructions that guide you through each lesson
• Encouragement for creativity (This has been a lesson to learn for this moma who can be a stickler for having a "stay inside the lines" kind of attitude. smile!)
• Very forgiving...easy to correct mistakes
• Variety of art project topics included that keeps my child's interest 
• Nana gives instructions on how to preserve your child's creations (I will definitely be doing this and even using some of Caleb's creations for Christmas gifts this year!)
• Lessons are short (This is great for a 12 year old boy with a short attention span. Out of the lessons we have done so far, it has taken up to 10 minutes tops for each lesson.)
• It has created a love of art for my child! He has enjoyed this curriculum so much that he asks to do it every day!
• The sense of accomplishment and confidence Caleb feels after completing an art project has been priceless for this moma!

Here is a look at some of Caleb's creations using A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels...

A Path to the Beach

At the Beach

Three Chicks

Harvest Moon

I'm already looking forward to using more of Nana's art projects she has available on her website Southern Hodgepodge. If you are looking to give it a go with art in your homeschool as I have done, you will not be disappointed with Nana's art curriculum. Head on over now to her website, but before you go...don't forget to enter my A Simple Start in Chalk Pastels curriculum giveaway below. Be sure to check back here to see if you are the winner!

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Please Get Me Off This Emotional Roller Coaster!

Am I the only one who has cried out this plea to God in moments of desperation after having let my emotions take over yet once again? I used to think I was all alone with my struggle to gain control of my emotions. That is, until I read Brooke McGlothlin's new book, How to Control Your Emotions So They Don't Control You.

The hope and encouragement I gained from pouring over the pages of this book, not to mention the tools Brooke uses to teach us in how to overcome our emotions, have been an answer from God in my plea for help to finally get off the emotional roller coaster - or at the very least to not jump on the emotional roller coaster as often! In this book, Brooke shows us we have a choice. That realization, my friend, is the first step. I'll never forget the day I realized I had a choice in reacting to the emotions that were welling up inside me. So many times I had given in to the emotional outbursts that left more damage in the situation than any good. I was tired of the feeling of defeat I was left with after letting my emotions control the way I reacted to situations that were stressful, hurtful, discouraging, etc. I knew I needed to change and I knew I needed God's help.

I am so thankful to God for leading Brooke into my life and for the opportunity she has given me to be a part of a pre-launch group of her new book How to Control Your Emotions So They Don't Control You. I have read this book and literally cried as I read the words God has placed in Brooke's heart. She is real, she loves God, she loves her children and husband, and she truly desires to help other women (whether you are a mom or not) overcome their own battle with emotions. 

No, I am not alone and neither are you, my friend! I encourage you to purchase How To Control Your Emotions So They Don't Control You today and begin learning how you can be an overcomer and finally get off the emotional roller coaster. Please leave me a comment below if you are purchasing the book or to share how this book has touched your life. 

I have been asked by Brooke to lead a study of her book and I would love to have you join me. More details on this will be forthcoming, so be sure to leave a comment below of a way to get in contact with you when the dates are set. 

Know that I'm praying for you!

The Great Life

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to dig into What Happens When Women Say Yes to God with women from all over this world (120 countries...WOW!). Today marks the end of our six-week journey, and I'm ending my blog series with this Scripture from God's Word that is a call from God for complete surrender and His promise of fulfillment when we say #YestoGod!

I am the Lord your God,
    who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

-Psalm 81:10 (NIV)

The Lord is my God.

My satisfaction is found in Him alone; every need I have will be fulfilled by Him.

It is so important for me to remember God as Lord of my life; to keep my #palmsup in surrender to His will for my life. He has to be Lord of all if He is to be at all.

He brought me up out of my Egypt.

God is the deliverer of my soul! Egypt represents this world and the bondages of sin that are all around us. He continues even now to deliver me from the bondages of sin in this world that tempt to become gods in my life.

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

What am I hungry for…the things of this world or the things of God?  Where and from whom do I seek my provision…from God who desires to be Lord of all or from the temporary aspects of this world that leave me still wanting more?

What a wonderful verse to end my six-week study of What Happens When Women Say Yes to God! In closing, I’d like to share some of Lysa TerKeurst’s key points of what God will bless our lives with when we say yes to Him:

1.       Deeper Relationship with God

2.       More Adventurous Life

3.       Depth of Inner Peace

4.       Personal Satisfaction

5.       Better Relationships with People

6.       Meaning and Purpose to Life

7.       Eternal Perspective
 

Who wouldn’t want to experience every single one of these aspects as a result of saying #YestoGod! Opportunities to say yes to God are all around us…all we have to do is respond in obedience to Him.

O, Lord, my God – I come to You with palms up and outstretched to You! I thank You for all that You have shown me through this study. I desire to be a woman who will always say yes to You. I long for more of You in my life and I see that by saying yes to Your leading, I can experience You in ways that I’ve never thought of before. Thank You for opening my eyes to how You long to fill me in my hunger for more of You in this life. You have so many treasures that You are eager to shower on those who are willing to say yes. So here I am, Lord, saying yes with an open heart, willing to walk into the opportunities that You place in my path. Let’s go…

Love,

Your Yes Girl

Are you ready to experience the radical blessings of saying #YestoGod? If so, please feel free to leave me a comment below so I can be praying for you!